Plastic Logic

[olekike]

too bad the sound is bad....

[mcteeth]

guess they aren't making it after all. oh well. next.

[pdormer]

why the two vertical lines / artifacts?

[arturro1551]

Why is this thing so unpopular? It would ease the life of e-book and daily newspaper readers and make the newspaper monopoly shift into the electronic sale. By selling it in affordable prices companies would make a contribution in reduction of deforestation which is due to high paper demand. It is so eco-friendly that i am personally going to do something in order to make it more popular in my country!

[landonjfox]

hahahah i remember when this was cool

[gillimaster]

i'd hit that

[tcee001]

pretty logical.. lol

[2PARAGON]

so when does the average man get one of these...

[ShootPointBlank]

It really does look like actual paper.

I can imagine schools using this, we wouldn't all be lugging around two-ton bags

[wakkarat]

I don't want the damn 3G. 802.11 is fine with me so roll out the "cheap" version because I needed this yesterday!

[carringtonblush]

A4 is longer than letter by 0.7" - and narrower - and shrinkage between the two is actually very noticeable when photocopying. Most scientific journals publish on A4 and the abstracts often at 9 or even 8 point font - further shrinkage would compromise a letter screen-size device for my purposes and I expect for many others in Europe, Canada, Australia etc. in business/academia. So I hope the screen will be long and wide enough for both paper types, but haven't heard back from PL on that yet.

[rocket881]

Ever heard of a VECTOR??? Or are you stuck in 1962 with direct ink drum copies?

[rocket881]

You're right, and A4 publications NEVER use a margin.. seeing all that white space on your ELECTRONIC disply is crucial to accurate image replication and review.

Go soak your head, maybe it'll come out with more sense.

[macewan]

I had hoped a flexible version would be offered. Anyone know if this is in the pipeline?

[LeoneClub]

I hope this will help bring down the cost of Kindle. Google and Apple may be coming with something similar.

[rocket881]

Plastic Logic isn't really competing with Kindle, they're marketing to business more than personal book reading, with spreadsheets, pdfs, powerpoint, etc.

[macewan]

Most of the questions asked here are answered on their FAQ.

[entypelo]

vi ricordate che si parlava di questa tecnologia che era economicissima con un processi di fabbricazione semplicissimo? semplice insomma, poco costoso, infatti il mororola FONE F3 porta questo displey che, per raggioni commerciali lo chiamano(EPD) costa 20euro nuovo, ma non il displey, tutto il cellulare intendo....quindi, perchè vendono questa tecnologia, che è economicissima a prezzi stratosferici?????

[ChrischanJunk]

They keep talking about this device! What the hell are they doing? Im reading about this for many months now and it's still not on the market.

Kindle is bringing out the Kindle DX with a big screen this summer. These Plastic Logic people will be swept away before they even got their's out.

[aleth85]

Why not a colour screen... that what be better for print ads and a broader commercial success.

[03veritas]

Because it takes a certain technology that isn't fully functional yet

[rocket881]

Why not a bottle opener? And a slot to store your change?

[barushki]

It has a 8.5x11 "form-factor", but the screen itself is just as small as the competition, e.g. the iRex Iliad or the Kindle DX.

Still waiting for the day these devices will grow to an actual 8.5x11. Then I can read all my PDF-articles without resorting to all kinds of zooming/cropping tricks.

[Slegarthoth]

The other thing I like to do is take notes in my Wiki as I read and switch between documents quickly.

So when they make something with the power to do that, I'll be first in line to buy it.

[rocket881]

WRONG. Check their website, 8/5x11 USEABLE touchscreen.

You FAIL. Turn off your computer and disconnect from the internet, you're ruining it for the rest of us, you're a waste of bandwidth and keystrokes.

[Slegarthoth]

I suspect Plastic Logic have missed the boat. If they had released in January, when they said they said they would, they would have cemented their place as market leaders, because it was so far ahead of everything else. But now they have the Kindle DX, which looks much larger and more attractive and there are rumors of Apple releasing a touch pad computer soon. So now I am thinking of waiting and for the Apple.

[03veritas]

A touch pad apple product isn't an e-reader although it probably can read documents. E-readers use a much different technology than LCD displays on computers

[Slegarthoth]

I've changed my mind completely on these readers. What I want isn't an Apple, Kindle, or Plastic Logic, because they are expensive and are only useful for one thing.

What I want is a tablet that allows me to interface with my PC over the internet, or wireless. That way I can have all the power of my PC, with the mobility of a tablet.

Surely this can't be too difficult to make or expensive? People are already making a $300 tablet to surf the internet.

[rocket881]

That's a prototype, the actual Que (being announced 1/7/09) has a lot of what you're talking about... 3G wireless, annotation/editing/markup capability, soft keyboard, and I believe a browser (at least in the works).

Considering the iPhone is $300, a device w/ screen that large is probably going to be at least $600.

[rocket881]

You're right, it's easy and cheap. You should be able to make one in your garage from toothpicks and bubblegum.

[Slegarthoth]

rocket881 = Try hard but fail troll. You need intelligence to troll effectively *boy*.

[JustAFocus]

Looks cool, but I wonder about its sturdiness (being large and thin might not be an advantage, as far as that goes), and I'm put off by the way it blacks out the screen on every page turn. Page turns should be nearly instantaneous.

[tierix]

yeah i'd love to have that to read my music sheets! But as somebody else said, the page turning is a way too slow to be efficient. It would have to be majorly improved.

[makkarena75]

i see 2 vertical lines, such a deathpixel.

I have 2 question :

1) is a robust?

2) is also a mode of writing? (similar to writing with a pen or keyboard)

[03veritas]

1)yes it is because it uses a plastic screen unlike  easy to break glass screens in modern products today

2) yes it does have a mode of writing with annotations at the touch of your finger

[rocket881]

1) is you know english?

[aidilgoh]

plus points that i see coming out from this:

1. less trees being chopped

2. power can come from renewable sources e.g. sun

3. mobility

4. in theory an infinite amount of information on a screen (depends on storage capacity)

questionable points:

1. its b n w - clarity of info needs color

2. no motion?

3. could be that manufacturing this on a large scale would actually impact against good sustainable practices

4. how about price?

[rockin982]

Its funny how people will look at a device like this and dismiss it because it doesn't fit THEIR own ideal of what the device should do and be, as if no other person in the world might have different needs and priorities in their own device. If you wanna read harry potter books on the train, then maybe your iPhone is fine.

If you read scholarly research articles for a living, then an iphone is totally worthless to you for reading purposes ...

[superbu1]

To me, the best thing about it is that the background is actually WHITE. My Kindle, the background is gray. Looks like this is much easier to read.

[junkmail1203]

yea.. but can you highlight?

[mcteeth]

by pushing it specifically as 'business-oriented' it seems like they are intentionally limiting their potential customer base, which seems foolish to me. Academics could really use something like this, and personally, I'd just like to have my DnD character sheets on it!

they should refine the markup feature till it's as useful as a pen and paper - otherwise what is the point of including it? maybe use a stylus. it doesn't have to be Wacom good, just better.

[03veritas]

i completely agree with this, though it will still have all the functionality of an e-reader. Academic wise, companys that public academic books won't lease their books because of fear that they will be pirated.

[zengrl07]

thats so cool. i really like the sheet music part of it. SO MUCH EASIER THAN CARRYING/PRINTING REAMS OF PAPER. X] i wonder what the memory capacity is expected to be...

[evildwarf]

It will be over 9000.

[maestrodon]

It's promising as a sheet music reader, but the page turning time will have to be improved. As I observe in the video, about 2 seconds is too slow. Also, it would be nice if the memory could be extended by USB stick or SD card.

[carringtonblush]

Folks, it's 8"x11" cos professionals read paper of that size. It ain't handbag-stuffing for teenage girls, or christmas-stocking filler for geeks. For a scientist with tens of thousands of 8x11 research papers who needs to spend hours a day reading, or a law clerk poring over massive volumes of printed material, it's solid gold, and that's the point of the device. However if the page turns aren't quickened it will be limited to curious tech geeks who saved up some money living at home.

[federicogarza]

So, what's exacty your problem with "geeks"?

[carringtonblush]

No problem at all sorry, I just mean that a few gadget geeks might be the only ones interested in this device unless they quicken it up!

[electromikey]

it's huge though...

[sagatyba]

i saw 2 vertical lines there, you broke it

[minniepauz]

Geno4444, but you would be able to read a newspaper on this and it would be as easy to carry as a regular folded newspaper (or fits in a briefcase or large purse.

[dionysian83]

This thing is fucking cool. Where can I buy one?

[openuniverse2003]

Jan 2010.

[DiabolicalKoneko]

after all that shes like, can you twirl it? x3

[djallfiredup]

Of course these devices always have disadvantages along with their advantages. Drop a book and it won't break, drop this thing and it probably will.

[djallfiredup]

As Seen on Star Trek :)

Very cool, about time too. Now to see them in full color.

[Geno4444]

The screen looks fantastic but I find it too big. I like to keep books in my pockets.

[chris674]

awesome.... I will get one for my work and cut back on paper docs.

I might get my son one for his school texts - save him lugging around school books...

I already read plenty of ebooks for work and pleasure on the laptop which is a strain - sometimes printing them off on paper to read....with this device I won't have to bother and will be easier on the eyes...

i think this will be to reading what the i-pod is to music.....and he kindle will turn out to be the beta video recorder....

[shiyali3]

Far fetched

[Skelymage]

Its not, It is available to the public

[shiyali3]

I was just correcting my message below, in which I list the features of my dream reading device (some kind of rubbery pad with no screen or screen but covered with intelligent materials capable of being pressed as buttons, and able to display coloured GUI in a reflectant, e-ink like way)

[shiyali3]

And backlit at will, yet sun readable

[Skelymage]

Oh ok, I didn't realize you were correcting ure past comment. Bad communication on my part. sorry =P

[shiyali3]

I'm just hoping to see one laptop with some kind of e-ink, sun readable yet backlit in the dark, 16 mill colour no less, no freaking update lags, and foldable, yet with enough reading surface for a tabloid or anything with such area. I guess it should be like a rubber pad, no physical keyboard, perhaps intelligent materials to generate a bumpy surface mimmicking GUI controls/keyboard as needed. Iphone and OLPC X02 showed us the way, along with that Blackberry model. Not too far reached

[Swoopyland]

If it had the same technology as most tablet PC's or an iPhone, the size would indicate that in the landscape position you could read a spread of two pages, which in my mind (like a real book) would be ideal.

[nickorization]

In order to read books with this it has to be smaller, and a lot faster, turning pages seems to take forever...

[Saiing]

Forever... you mean that special kind of forever that takes less than a second. The same forever that is probably about the amount of time it takes to turn a page in a conventional paper book.

[nickorization]

It seems to be taking some time, and there's the main idea: This is not a conventional paper book, this is digital, it must be immediate, without any lags.

[Saiing]

It's called e-ink - tiny charged white and black ink particles physically move in order to make up the page. It's a totally different process to an LCD screen. What it provides is ultra low power consumption, but more importantly it's very easy on the eye, because it looks just like actual ink on a page. Not like a screen.

The fact that it's a physical process means that the laws of physics come into play. It's not likely to become instant.

[03veritas]

Turning the pages of a physical book also applies the laws of physics xD

[maddwitch]

If this thing was smaller, I'd be practically drooling. It's awesome, no doubt, but it's just too big. If it can't fit in my purse, which takes large paperbacks with no problem, then it's just not convenient enough for me. Especially when there are plenty of e-readers out there that ill.

[deanbush]

How does a girl (or anyone) carry that around? If I could store it and carry it around, I'd consider it. Until then Zinio on my TabletPC works the same way.

[Ashinkizer]

As a person who started reading ebooks on tiny mobile phone screens years ago, I don't think this device will be so great.

For ebooks, Stanza on an iPod/iPhone is perfect. You don't need any more space than that and all it costs is what it costs you to find a 1st gen iPhone that someone doesn't want.

Magazines and newspapers though, you can't read on a smaller screen. Still, I can't imagine someone dropping $2-300 on a device just for newspapers.

A step in the right direction though.

[macewan]

Does anyone have pricing information available? Wonder if Amazon will carry this thing. :-)

[v1m]

I was thinking about a Kindle, but now I'll wait.

[paskxyz]

Looks to have great potential.  Size of screen appears to be around a hardcover book, much bigger than Kindle or Reader. As many people have noted, pages "turn" slowly. Remaining issue is price. Hopefully a bit cheaper than a Kindle. If so, should do well. I would consider one.

[mcteeth]

anyone know if they'll allow some 3rd party applications?

[negcshflw]

Where are you guys coming up with prices, do you just pull them from thin air? Additionally, those who are bashing (slow load time)please give it a rest this thing is unlike any other reader out there on the market. I love the comment it won't catch on with the public unless its under 40 dollars...are you insane??? Subscribing to a newspaper is on average 200 bucks a year. What would drive the marketing on this product would be content at a cheap price.

[regisdesrosiers]

At first sight, I tought ... hum ... nothing that my Sony Reader cannot do, more likely to break, takes more space in my bag. Then I saw the music score on it ... aaarhg ... I want one !!!

[aCynic2]

Projected retail price is about the cost of the kindle: $350.

WANT!

[ProDigit80]

I wonder for how much this one will go.

If it has about the same functions as current e-readers, it might go for around $700-800.

Especially if they mention it is 'business-oriented'.

Current business oriented designs are between 500 and $1000.

[worthlessdollar1]

They will not catch on with the public until they can be bought for under $40 - $50.

If it costs anymore than that, people will be too afraid to carry them around on trains, buses etc. for fear of losing them.

They're a fantastic idea though. I'm confident that when prices come down and a few problems are ironed out (such as slow page turning) their numbers will explode and soon people will wonder "how did I ever cope before?" - like the iPod.

Advertisers will have a field day, too.

[ProDigit80]

I doubt it will ever get sold for under $100, so don't get your hopes up!

I bet the starting price will be around $800,and might drop down to 200 in 32 to 3 years.

By then the color readers are available, however, I prefer B&W over color.

[jfielhauer]

You're absolutely right. That's why no one carries around a laptop, ipod or cell phone either. It's funny that you would say people won't buy a device valued over $50 for fear of loss and then name an item that fits that exact description.

[worthlessdollar1]

No need for the dry sarcasm. I'm guessing you're "an IT person"...

My point about the price will be even more relevant during the vicious recession that's beginning to unfold. People will not have $100's laying around to spend on luxuries.

[jfielhauer]

worthlessdollar1,

You're right. The sarcasm wasn't necessary.

We'll see what happens with the price but I think this device could easily cost several hundred dollars and still sell relatively well. The people who will be worst hit by the recession aren't really the target consumers anyway. Smart people who read will still have jobs, mostly. Depending how much each person spends on newspapers and books this device could be a better investment.

Also, I'm not an IT person.

[Newberer]

1. There will always be people who will have $100's laying around.

2. For lots of people, this device would not be considered as a luxury.

3. I'm guessing you're "a dumbass person"...

[worthlessdollar1]

My IT remark obviously hit a nerve, lol.

[mcteeth]

this thing is pretty awesome, they just need to make the frame black instead of two shades of beige - blechh!

[moralapostel]

I know this is typical for such devices, but the time needed for switching to a new page seems very long. It feels like almost 2 seconds from touch screen input to the actual display of the next page.

Sometimes when i am not searching for something specific i want to flip through the pages of a book quickly. This seems to be impossible - or at least it would take hours - with this device.

[jfielhauer]

I'd like to see you flip a newspaper page in less than two seconds.  Newspapers are cumbersome to turn.

[HiDefKing]

O, man can't wait to the get my hands on this. Already own a Irex Iliad and a Sony PRS-505 but this will be the cream of the crop, I hope...

[smedegaard1977]

How is the Irex illiad compared to the PRS-505 in your oppinion? I mean Irex have wacom as touch interface, where PRS-505 has top layer touch screen on theirs, as do the Que. My thoughts were that a wacom would be preferable to touchscreen in order to avoid glare and the sorts, but I havent seen either of them in real life. So what are your oppinion? Go for touch screen or wacom based products?

[ondjima]

if its around $300 or less I'd buy 2

[Leicesterdog]

Wow, it even twirls!

[tingzheng]

I really like it to save my eyes :-)

How will it cost?

I hope not to be more expensive than eee PC ;-)

[CarnationMB]

About $350, but there is a rumors that it may less - about $100.

[ruawk]

i totally want one.....need to start saving my pennies now!

[hermiejr157]

I love the future. <3

[scstraus]

PERFECT! Touch screen and lots of formats. Sign on a major e-book portal and I'm there.

[motlay]

Word is...Kindle price range...Sweet!

[Youngstown529]

What took so gosh-darned long for someone to come up with this device??

[Rabidness]

Whiiiiiiiiiiiine

[carringtonblush]

Yes are we the only people wondering what took the world so long to come up with this simple electronic page in the normal paper size.? The electronics manufacturers of the world have put in a shameful effort in this arena, especially considering the massive resources poured into developing games. Electronic paper could have a really good impact on business and the environment. It's so overdue.

[rocket881]

It's too fucking expensive you dolt.

[carringtonblush]

Yeah that was my point, electronics manufacturers should have put in more research sooner to develop a low cost business paper replacement already. Sorry to catch you at the wrong time of the month.

[rocket881]

Again, you're a moron.

It's TOO fucking expensive.. the technology wasn't mature, the processes weren't developed. You can't say "business should have put more into it sooner" ...business does what's profitable at the time, and they wait for R&D to provide viable technology. They aren't going to sink resources into pipe dreams.

[carringtonblush]

There are several other electronic paper-substitute technologies the big manufacturers could have developed/bought out, not just this one, but they didn't - they under-invested in the whole business E-paper concept. Conversation over.

Your comment that A4 and letter are the same size is also wrong, they are quite different. Try either getting your facts straight or toning down the abuse a little!

[rocket881]

Could have developed/bought out? Well shit, YOU could have. China could have. But didn't and for very valid reasons, it's too fucking expensive and the technology wasn't mature, it was RISKY.

I never said A4 and letter were the same.. I said it was aimed at the US market, common A4 (letter) size.. which are VERY close, and would both display at 100% on this device.

God damn you are dense, or just have horribly poor reading comprehension, or both.

[ShootPointBlank]

Not too good a reason rocket. Human civilization wouldn't have gotten this far if we said "hey, that's too expensive to build, I'll just go sit around in a cave and wait"

Plus you only ever really become successful in business when you take risks. I think we'd all be using defunct walkmans if Steve Jobs didn't take initiative

[rocket881]

@ShootPointBlank Yeah, Napolean was a real idiot for not investing in jet fighters and tanks. What was he thinking!

ANd your Jobs comment is mindless. For example, portable digital music players were first demonstrated in the 70s. Long before CD players were mass produced. Mass prod mp3 didn't happen until late 90s, because of 1) immature tech and 2) cost to produce. Oh, and Apple didn't really get into the portable music game until 2001, 4 years after the MPMan, Rio, Nomad, etc.

[ShootPointBlank]

You're a regular laughing riot, aren't ya?

Yeah, I remember one scientist, who was probably a relative of yours, who said that nothing other than birds could fly. Then the Wright bros. had to ruin that. I bet you were so disappointed

Point is, if pessimistic people like you were running the show, I bet jet planes and the like would've only existed in 2000

[fujiwat0601]

Very nice!

I calculated the screen size.

Body size in the release notes are 8.5" x 11.0" (216mm × 279mm).

On my PC screen, body width=165mm and screen width=125mm.

(body width):(screen width)

165mm:125mm = 8.5":6.44" = 216mm:164mm

It looks bigger than A5, smaller than B5.

This body flame looks like page margin very well, in order to the flat body.

Therefore it will be acceptable for normal US-LETTER document which has a page margin.

Celebration!

[rocket881]

Yes, it's aimed at the US Market, common A4 (letter) size.

[djrevdon]

I absolutely NEED one of these!

I hope it doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I'll pay it, though!

[ithinkronpaulissmart]

i heard this was supposed to be pretty cheap. Cheaper than the kindle at least.